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Considering Safety

This week is health, wellness and safety week at Appalachian. From our annual Walk for Awareness to the Health, Wellness and Safety festival to the numerous prevention training programs— a variety of educational and communal events fill our calendars and a myriad of resources are in place to promote our community’s well-being.

Sadly, safety is tenuous. For some, a sense of security that feels solid one day can seemingly evaporate the next.

We are seeing the impact of the larger political environment mar the sense of security for our nation’s “Dreamers.” The ramifications of the President’s recent announcement about ending DACA will be far-reaching across the state and nation. Congress now has the opportunity to ensure the safety and security of these U.S. residents who have known no other home. They provide valuable contributions to our society, and deserve the same opportunities as their peers.

At Appalachian, we have a working group, established last spring and made up of faculty, staff and students, who are monitoring the impact these decisions are having on our campus and providing expertise, guidance and perspective as we teach and learn amidst uncertainty.

We strive to provide support, resources and information to the members of our community who may be experiencing fear and uncertainty related to their citizenship status. Regardless of immigration status, our university will continue to dedicate resources to ensure the safety and well-being of every member of the Appalachian Community.

As we navigate national political challenges, we also feel for those who are suffering in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. As the Eastern Seaboard braces for Irma, even in our mountain location, we are preparing.

Our community seeks to help those in need. Disaster recovery efforts will be ongoing for some time, and Student Affairs is working with student groups to be sure their volunteer efforts are effective and meaningful.

I maintain our collective voice is the strongest. We can be protective, prepared and proactive.

I am ever mindful of and thankful for the staff, faculty and students – and for the community organizations with which they collaborate – who keep us prepared; who are watchful; who work so hard to provide the tools we need to cope should our situation – personal or collective – change.

Fall semester is in full swing and your students are settling into their classes, which are rigorous and designed to push them to think critically and creatively. The beginning of each semester is always a good time to remind students of the robust resources our university provides to help them succeed. These offerings - many of them guided by our stellar faculty - include early academic interventions, wellness and prevention services, financial aid assistance and career counseling, and contribute to Appalachian's impressive retention rate, which is well above the national average. We help students establish a foundation for success that lasts a lifetime.

Fall semester is in full swing and we have complemented our rigorous academics with a full slate of events - from our second annual Founders Day earlier this month to the Homecoming festivities scheduled for October. Construction continues - on time and on budget - from the upgrade of Sanford Hall to the new parking deck, recently opened, and the quickly rising residence halls. Stay up to date on all the changes on the Appalachian's Future website. It is always a pleasure to hear stories of how our alumni - nearly 97,000 of whom reside in North Carolina - are using their Appalachian education to enhance their professions, elevate their communities and make real and powerful contributions.

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Appalachian State University is committed to providing equal opportunity in education and employment to all applicants, students, and employees. The university does not discriminate in access to its educational programs and activities, or with respect to hiring or the terms and conditions of employment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or sexual orientation. The university actively promotes diversity among students and employees.